HOME & GARDEN

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Yesterday was one of those mornings I just could not sleep, so I got up at 5:00 and decided to take a walk down to the river that is just a couple twists and turns from the ocean. I live in a town that has the largest amount of antique homes, still standing, in the country, and I enjoyed looking at the architecture, the gardens, and window boxes. By the time I got home, I was so relaxed and refreshed, I was ready to take on my day.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

I have compiled a page full of peacock themed party ideas and inspiration boards from some very creative blogs and web sites. The one above happens to be from Weddings Unlimited Magazine. For the full collection of photos, click here to be transported to our web site.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

One of the reasons I started New England Fine Living was to share my experiences with you, especially when I learn something wonderful and new. I am going out of my comfort zone, sometimes getting embarrassed so that you can learn through my faux pas. Here is the latest example of one of those "situations". Oh and trust me, they happen almost daily. Yesterday I took a press tour of the Lindt Chocolate Factory for the grand opening of their chocolate liquor facility. You see the word liquor right??? (I will post that information soon). Silly me…. I actually thought there was going to be liquor in the chocolate and bragged to my friends that I was going to try a delicious spirit infused chocolate after I read the press release. Nope! Liquor is just the name of the chocolate once it is turned into a pure liquid form. Duhhhhh! And I was so glad to hear others say the same thing during some chatting with others. This is the definition from Wikipedia: Chocolate liquor (cocoa liquor) is pure chocolate in its liquid form. Like the cocoa beans (nibs) from which it is produced, it contains both cocoa solids and cocoa butter in roughly equal proportion.It is produced from cocoa beans that have been fermented, dried, roasted, and separated from their shells. The beans are ground into cocoa mass (cocoa paste). The mass is melted to the liquor, and the liquor is cooled and molded into blocks (Lindt makes theirs shaped like hearts) known as unsweetened baking chocolate (bitter chocolate). I got to see this process and it was amazing. Chocolate liquor contains roughly 53 percent cocoa butter (fat), about 17 percent carbohydrates, 11 percent protein, 6 percent tannins, and 1.5 percent theobromine

I wish I knew who took the photo or for what event it was used for, but can you imagine wearing that in a fashion show! How cool!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

What a fun color to design a party around or to wear to an event. It reminds me of a purple see-through rain jacket I had as a child... you know.. those jelly jackets like the shoes that are still around today. They even came back in style when my daughter (now 20) was around 7 or 8.

I love the ring. I will see if I can find something similar to link here and can you imagine how fun wearing a purple dress to a party would be? More Purple Theme Ideas... Click here to go to our web site

Woman with ice cream on on the car- Corrie Bond Champagne and Strawberry photo and Purple Table Setting lower corner - Everything Fabulous Purple Drink is called a Purple Haze.

Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Next year, Gucci
turns 90, and just gave consumers another reason to shop with them and have items shipped by them. Going ahead with a strong green initiative,
the fashion brand is planning a series of eco-friendly tweaks in it
operations, starting with the paper packaging. The packaging will be
reduced significantly and FSC Certified paper which is 100% recyclable
will be used. Shopping bags will spot the line "This shopping bag is FSC
certified and made of 100% recyclable material."

Shipped items like shoes will be come in a single flannel package
instead of two and gift boxes will be available on request. The boxes
will come devoid of plastic laminated surfaces and plastic laminated
surfaces and coated tissue paper. Ribbon and garment bags will now be
crafted with polyester and cotton.
Other initiative sinclude changing all the mannequins new eco-friendly
versions, created with shockproof polystyrene which is a lasting and
recyclable materials. By 2010, the company plans to reduce its plastic
waste by 35 tons, Co2 emissions by 10,000 tons and gas oil consumption
by around 4 million liters.

Information from Luxury Launches Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

On a serious note.... When I made the life changing decision to become single after 26 years, I found myself gravitating towards butterflies. I have always loved them ( my favorite color periwinkle is the color of the small butterflies I used to chase in my back yard as a child), but I never wore them or decorated with them. Then, one day I decided to purchased a sterling silver butterfly ring to wear and look at during a challenging time. It was to remind me that this change was going to take me from a caterpillar to a butterfly... to a place where I could finally spread my wings and fly in any direction of my choice. Strange thing is.... The butterfly ring fell off my finger and was lost just a few days after I no longer needed it. The reason I am bringing this up is that tonight, I came across some butterfly quotes I had saved on my computer, remembered what I had endured, and thought some of you might like to read them.

How does one
become a Butterfly she asks? “You must
want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.

Happiness is a
butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if
you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

~Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Just
living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine,
freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson

Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases
wherever it goes. ~Author Unknown

We delight in
the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through
to achieve that beauty. ~Maya Angelou

Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time. ~Deborah
Chaskin

If nothing
ever changed, there would be no butterflies

Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Cool off with lemonade for adults only. These
lemonade recipes with alcohol are sure going to please the palette at
your next party or special entertaining event. Pssssst. You can make
it for yourself at home too!

Nothing says summer entertaining like lemonade with a touch
of alcohol for the adults! If you are an adult, you can make a lemonade
wine cooler to enjoy this summer or any time of the year! Lemonade wine
coolers are very easy to make and you will save money by making your own
wine coolers. You can make some for your friends too! Lemonade wine
coolers are great for barbecues or any party. But remember, adults only!
Lemonade wine coolers are not for anyone under drinking age.

Ingredient list for
lemonade wine coolers:

White
wine

Lemonade

Lemon flavored seltzer water

Slice of lemon

Crushed
ice or ice cubes

Add some crushed ice or two ice cubes to a wine glass or you
can use a water glass for a large lemonade wine cooler. Fill the glass
1/2 full with white wine. You can use any white wine or a pink wine or
blush wine will work fine too. Add some lemonade until the glass is 3/4
full. You can use ready-made lemonade or you can use lemon Kool-Aid or
if you are watching your calories, use lemon Crystal Light or another
brand of sugar-free lemonade. Fill the glass to the top with lemon
flavored seltzer water. Add a slice of lemon as a garnish.

A note from Linda

Thank you for stopping by! This blog is where I share my thoughts, ideas, and inspiration in a casual manner. I love to share and teach, so I am constantly taking photographs, producing videos, or consulting. I'm a tastemaker and cocktail shaker ready to explore the world around me, especially New England. I am a trained interior designer and party stylist, visual marketing and branding consultant, writer, reviewer, mom, wife and a publisher (Phew! I know that sounds like I wear a lot of hats, but being over 50, I have had many wonderful years to increase my knowledge and expertise). I'm a girly-girl and a tom boy wrapped up in one package and I would not have it any other way.